## About the JRC Scientific Traineeships Programme
As the science and knowledge service of the European Commission, the mission of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) is to provide independent, evidence-based knowledge and science, supporting EU policies to positively impact society. The JRC is located in 5 Member States (Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain).
Through this programme, you can:
– Acquire practical skills and knowledge in a multi-cultural, interdisciplinary environment
– Work at the heart of scientific support for EU policies
– Develop a network of contacts and build your career
The JRC cultivates a workplace based on respect for other people and the environment and embraces non-discriminatory practices and equality of opportunity.
## Call for expression of interest – October 2026 session
For the October 2026 call, the JRC seeks to recruit approximately 50 scientific trainees in different thematic areas relevant to the organisation. The thematic areas are clustered in 11 fields.
If the candidate’s profile fits more than one field, the applicant is encouraged to choose as their first option the field in which they are most specialised. The programme welcomes candidates from diverse backgrounds, with a particular emphasis on those who possess a strong scientific foundation and interest. Trainees will have the chance to engage in a variety of tasks, including both desktop work and laboratory activities, tailored to the needs of each project.
**Deadline:** 12 May 2026, 15:00 Brussels time
## Place of traineeship
The place of traineeship will be one of the following JRC sites:
– Geel (Belgium)
– Ispra (Italy)
– Karlsruhe (Germany)
– Petten (the Netherlands)
– Seville (Spain)
Candidates can indicate the site(s) of preference in the application.
## Thematic fields
1. **Environment and climate** – climate change, air, water and soil quality, biodiversity, sustainable land use, circular economy
2. **Energy sustainability** – renewable energy, hydrogen, batteries, PV, energy efficiency, nuclear safety, energy market modelling, electrification, emissions monitoring
3. **Security, ICT, cyber-security and technologies for law enforcement** – cyber-security, data protection, AI for security, cryptography, biometrics, software engineering, infrastructure security
4. **Data management, analysis, research, and applications for evidence-based decision-making** – data science, econometrics, statistics, text mining, data visualisation, impact evaluation
5. **Artificial intelligence, machine learning, and complex systems** – AI applications, autonomous systems and robotics, AI ethics, generative AI, large language models
6. **Space technologies, secure connectivity and geo-information** – satellite navigation (Galileo), 5G/6G, IRIS², quantum communications, Earth observation, GIS
7. **Health and consumer protection** – public health, life sciences, biotechnology, food safety, nutrition, advanced therapies, regulatory affairs
8. **Transport science and sustainable mobility** – transport engineering, urban planning, electrified/autonomous vehicles, mobility policy, transport emissions
9. **Social and political sciences, geopolitics, democracy, science communication, economic and financial resilience** – social sciences, political science, economics, foresight, governance research
10. **Behavioural science, research management, economics and education** – behavioural sciences, education, economics, psychology, policy design
11. **Nuclear Science and Technology, Radiochemistry and radiation protection** – nuclear engineering, radiation protection, reactor physics, nuclear fuel cycle, nuclear data
More detailed information, project descriptions, and relevant candidate profiles for each field are available in Annex I of the call.
## Eligibility requirements
Candidates must meet the requirements by the application deadline.
**Nationality:** Open only to nationals of EU Member States and of countries associated with the Research Framework Programmes at the time of publication. Recruitment of candidates from non-Member States may require additional administrative procedures (e.g. visas, residence permits).
**Degree:** Candidates must hold at least a standard three-year higher education degree, equivalent to a complete bachelor’s cycle (180 ECTS credits). Additionally, candidates must meet at least one of the following:
– Have been awarded their last university degree no more than five years prior to the closing date of the call; or
– Be currently enrolled in a Master’s degree or Ph.D. (or equivalent) programme
**Languages:** Candidates must have a thorough knowledge of English (minimum C1 level, CEFR). In addition, candidates from EU Member States must have a very good knowledge (minimum B2 level, CEFR) in another Community language.
**Previous experiences:** Applications are NOT considered eligible from candidates who, for more than six weeks within a European institution, body or agency, have already benefited from any kind of traineeship (formal or informal, paid or unpaid); have had any kind of employment (including temporary staff, contract staff, grantholder, or assistant to an MEP); or have had experience as an external service provider, interim staff, seconded national expert or visiting scientist.
## Selection criteria
Candidates are evaluated anonymously, based on the following:
– Education (minimum bachelor’s degree)
– Languages skills
– Relevant field-related work, volunteering and practical experiences (e.g. projects and tasks), if any
– Knowledge of IT and equipment tools, if any
– International experience (e.g. studies, work, volunteering abroad and aptitude to work in an international environment), if any
– Papers, publications, participation in conferences/summer schools, if any
– Motivation and suitability for the JRC
National guiding rates may be applied to ensure balanced geographical representation. All candidates will be notified about the pre-selection results. Short-listed candidates may be contacted for informal interviews directly by the interested JRC Unit/Service. Not all short-listed candidates will be offered a traineeship.
## Conditions of traineeship
The next traineeship session will start in **October 2026** and will run for a fixed period of **5 months**. Under exceptional circumstances and subject to prior approval, a postponement of the start date may be possible.
**Monthly allowance:** The amount of the basic monthly allowance in 2026, adjusted by the applicable correction coefficient of the site, is between **€1,338.20 and €1,741.20**. No tax or social security contributions are withheld or paid by the European Commission with respect to these allowances. Trainees are solely responsible for the declaration and payment of any taxes due on allowances in accordance with the laws in force in the relevant State(s).
**Travel allowance:** Trainees may receive a travel allowance that partly covers the expenses incurred for travelling from their place of residence to their place of traineeship. The allowance is a lump sum (fixed amount) calculated based on the shortest aerial distance between the trainee’s place of residence and the place of assignment. The trainee must complete a minimum of three months of traineeship to qualify for the travel allowance.
**On-site:** JRC traineeships are on-site, with limited teleworking arrangements.
## Two sessions per year
Two traineeship sessions per year — March and October — each lasting 5 months. Applications are open twice a year for a limited period:
– Autumn — for traineeships starting in March
– Spring — for traineeships starting in October
Spontaneous applications are not considered.
## Further opportunities
Access to the Junior Professionals Programme (JPP) is open to JRC scientific trainees, subject to specific eligibility requirements and further boundary conditions.
## Contact
For questions related to this call: [email protected]
For technical issues with the application: [email protected]
## How to apply
Submit your application via the JRC Recruitment Portal before the deadline (12 May 2026, 15:00 Brussels time). Candidates are strongly advised not to attempt the validation process in the last few minutes before the deadline.
